Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-09
DAILY HERALD.
JOURNALISM.
The American and the English
m ct N Od.

JOUnNAIlSM.
The American and the English
Method.
The development of journalism in
any country will always constitute an
interesting index of the civilization OF
the people it represents. Not only is
this true OF the press of a particular
country, but of the newspaper busi-
ness of particular sections and locali-
ties. In the United States it is not
difficult to distinguish by their general
style all arrangement western or II
southern newspaper from cores
ponding eastern publication, or even
the reprt entative paper of ono city
from i, ,urnal characteristic OF an
other city.
Mr. Araot Reid, an English journal
ist WIN has been in America, has
been publishing in the Nineteenth
Century Review some of the results OF
his observations on the differences be-
tween English and American journal
ism. The chief differences he finds
are in the character and quality oi
the news matter published and the
subjects treated One OF the most
marked differences is in the great at
tention given by the American press
to European affairs, and the very
small space devoted by the English
papers to American news. As an ex-
ample, the columns of the leading
papers in New York and London are
compared for one week ending
March 25, 1887. In the sa ne
time the New York Herald
printed 27b columns OF European
news, the New York Times 1514
columns, the New York Tribune 1914
columns. On the other hand, in the
same time of American news the Lon
don Times published A columns. the
Standard 21lxs columns and the Telegraph
2 columns. In the light OF these facts
the American Anglomaniacs and the
hunters after foreign lions ought to
feel hugely disguised to find how little
their country and its affairs interest
Europeans.
The chief reason for this radical
difference in the treatment OF foreign
news is probably that the Americans,
being "a cosmopolitan people, are free
from the narrow selfishness and in
tense egotism that characterizes for
eigners generally. The Americans,
unlike the English. who wish to con-
quer and subject other nations, are a
sort of missionary race, desiring to
assist and to benefit all other peoples.
The Americans truly realize the senti-
ment set forth by old Plautus, that
being themselves filled with humanity
nothing human fails of being interest
ing to them. Americans are intensely
sympathetic and full OF pity for the
sufferings OF people in all parts Of
the world. If there is afamine in Ire
land, flood in France or Austria, an
earthquake in Italy or Greece, or a dis
aster or national distress in any part
of the world, American money goes
straight on the wings of steam and
electricity to succor and relieve. The
Americans, large-hearted and broad
mined like their vast continent, are
Indifferent to the snobbish contempt
and ungracious sights OF foreigners.
they indulge their sympathetic out
bursts and charitable impulses all the
same.
Another great difference is the treat
ment Of local news. The American
papers are, perhaps, most distinguish
ed for the completeness with which
they give the details OF important To-
cal happenings, and the comparative
esteem in which this sort OF news is
held by leading American and Eng
lish papers is shown by the following
figures. In given period, the New
York Herald printed 6S334 columns Of
news local to New York and vicinity
The Times printed 63I columns, and
the Tribune 454 columns. In the
same period the London papers
published news local to London and
the whole OF England as fol-
lows: The Times. 12a4 columns; Sian
dard, Z columns Telegraph, 21a col
umns Probably nothing shows SO
decisively as this, how little the great
London papers address themselves to
the people at large, and how exclu-
sively they cater to particular classes,
such as the nobility and gentry and
the commercial community. For theil
benefit, much space is devoted by the
London press to sporting matters
chiefly the turf, and to commercial
and shipping intelligence, all topics
which the people at large have bu
little time or means to attend to.
The little consideration given by thu
foreign press to local news dwarfs to .
great degree the importance Of repor-
terial work. Mr.. Reid speaks very
distinctly on this subject. He says
"rhe average English reportel
trusts far too much to shorthand
When he gets on large daily he il
apt to become mere note-takins
machine. and he is treated and es
teemed as such. The result is tina
when there comes among the report
ers a man who can write out Of hi
own head no use is made Of hi
capacity. The chief reporter simply
uses him as machine. When the Oc
casion comes that reporter is wanted
TO write original copy he is either no
there, or he lacks the facility tha
comes from practice. The American
reporter is different, in many cases ht
would be unfit to take his turn il
the gallery or at large public meet
ing where the papers send corpi
for a five-column verbatim report
His shorthand is shaky and, like
David Copperield's, a puzzle to him
self. But he can go to a meeting anC
write half-narrative and half-critical
report, containing not only the
main facts but score of little
gossipy items and comments thai
people like to read. He can be tolG
to go down to the depot and make {
column about the new boss'-a com
mand at which the average English
reporter would stare helplessly. Final
ly he can be requested to go and gel
some news and he will 90 and get it
His English confrere never heard sucl
command, and has no knowledge
that anything ever happens save sucl
anticipated events as are daily entered
.1f